Raw grief is the searing side of grief that books and movies give little credence to. It’s the side that guts our souls, shatters our hearts, and exposes our vulnerabilities.
Raw grief reduces us to a state of brokenness.
It finds us collapsed on the bathroom floor sobbing hysterically, incapable of pulling ourselves up.
It leaves us gasping for breath and drives us to the brink of insanity because we don’t know what to do with the pain that’s eating away at our hearts and souls.
It drives us to check out on family and friends, ditch social functions, and forget appointments.
Raw grief has us searching the Internet in the middle of the night, hoping to find relief.
And it finds us in our nightgown burrowed under the covers at 3 PM, ignoring the doorbell, telephone, and sometimes, personal hygiene.
Raw grief causes us to dread holidays, family pictures, … and waking up.
Yeah, raw grief. The real side. The necessary side. The healing side.
A personal note …
Friend,
Please know that raw grief is temporary. It feels like it will last forever. It won’t.
It will visit from time to time, but it will always move on. It will make you stronger.
And despite the emptiness that you think is your life, you are never, ever alone.
Please hear me: God didn’t dump this heartache on you. He sits in it with you.
When you think you can’t possibly lift your head off the pillow or trudge through another day, He does what you can not. He’ll grant you the strength to take the next step.
Fall into Him. Allow Him to hold you.
Please know that I’m praying fiercely and fervently for you as you travel this unwanted journey. I’m praying that your grief will be expedited, that you will sleep soundly at night, that you will find relief in moments of peace and joy every day, and that you will look to the cross for hope.
God’s got you, friend.
Walking this unwanted journey with you,
Shelley